Chicago’s Life Expectancy Rebounds to 78.7 Years After Pandemic Dips
Chicago’s average life expectancy has risen to 78.7 years after pandemic-related declines, with ongoing efforts to address disparities among neighborhoods and racial groups.
In 2023, Chicago's average life expectancy increased to 78.7 years, nearly reaching the pre-pandemic high. Despite this positive trend, significant disparities persist among different racial groups and neighborhoods. The city's health department attributes the improvement mainly to a decline in COVID-19-related deaths and reductions in early deaths from chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Historically, Chicago saw its highest life expectancy at 78.8 years in 2019. The pandemic caused a sharp decline, dropping to 75.2 years in 2020. However, recent data indicates a recovery as COVID-19’s impact lessened, especially due to the near-elimination of COVID-19 deaths, which previously accounted for a large portion of the racial life expectancy gap. Improvements in healthcare and efforts to reduce deaths from heart disease, cancer, and violence among Black residents have been crucial.
The overall progress reflects ongoing efforts, including city initiatives aimed at closing life expectancy gaps. Racial disparities remain, with Black Chicagoans experiencing an average life expectancy of 71.8 years, compared to 81.3 years for white residents, 82.7 years for Latinos, and 86.8 years for Asian and Pacific Islanders. Experts note that while the narrowing of the gap—now at 10.6 years—is promising, changes tend to occur slowly, and sustained efforts are needed.
Neighborhood disparities are also prominent, with some central areas enjoying life expectancies close to 87 years, while communities like West Garfield Park see averages as low as 66.6 years—more than 20 years less. Community organizations have been working to improve access to healthy foods and healthcare services in these underserved areas. The city’s strategic plan, Healthy Chicago 2025, prioritizes five neighborhoods for targeted interventions to address the root causes of health disparities, including chronic diseases, violence, and social determinants of health.
Additional efforts by coalitions such as West Side United aim to eliminate life expectancy gaps through community-based programs. Overall, Chicago’s recent progress demonstrates the impact of coordinated public health initiatives, but ongoing investment and focus remain essential to achieving health equity across all its neighborhoods.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-average-life-chicago-rebounds-years.html
Stay Updated with Mia's Feed
Get the latest health & wellness insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Related Articles
New Research Highlights the Importance of Smoking Status in Lung Cancer Staging
Recent research reveals that smoking status significantly impacts lung cancer survival and should be considered in cancer staging, highlighting the importance of smoking cessation in improving patient outcomes.
Dietary Fats and Their Impact on Severe Childhood Asthma
New research links specific dietary fats to severe, treatment-resistant asthma in children, emphasizing the role of diet in respiratory inflammation and potential new therapies.
U.S. Meat Supply Tested by Olympic Anti-Doping Laboratory for Performance-Enhancing Substances
UCLA athletes' anti-doping testing methods are now used to analyze U.S. meat for performance-enhancing residues. The study confirms that beef, pork, and chicken typically contain safe levels of growth-promoting agents, supporting current regulatory practices.
Innovative Herpes Virus-Based Vaccine Shows Potential in Cancer Treatment Without Side Effects
A novel herpes virus-based cancer vaccine shows promise in targeting tumors effectively without causing side effects, offering new hope for cancer therapies.